Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 and up

Virtual reality–enhanced parent education for NICU caregivers

Official title: Virtual Reality-Enhanced Parent Education and Its Effect on Neonatal Intensive Care Practices: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Run by Jouf University · NCT07410858 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This pilot will try short VR training sessions to help parents of newborns in the NICU learn caregiving tasks and build confidence compared with standard education.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment60 (estimated)
SponsorJouf University
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Ismailia, Ismailia, Egypt.)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJanuary 1, 2026
Main results expectedMarch 31, 2026
Study endsApril 30, 2026
Registry record updatedFebruary 18, 2026
Trial IDNCT07410858 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are parents or legal guardians aged 18 or older of a neonate admitted to the NICU within 72 hours who read Arabic and are willing to consent and participate.

Probably not a fit

Parents with epilepsy or vestibular disorders, those whose infant is expected to leave the unit within 48 hours, or those unable to use VR are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This single-center, randomized, parallel-group pilot enrolls parents of neonates admitted to the NICU and randomly assigns them to VR-enhanced education or standard parent education. The intervention group receives short immersive VR sessions using a headset that demonstrate NICU orientation and routine caregiving procedures, while the control group receives usual verbal and printed instruction. Study outcomes focus on feasibility (recruitment, adherence, retention), parent knowledge and confidence, observed caregiving practices, and VR safety/tolerability. Results will generate preliminary effect-size estimates to inform larger trials.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, VR training could increase parent confidence and caregiving competence in the NICU and ease the transition to home care.

How similar studies have gone: Virtual reality has shown promise for medical and caregiver training in other settings, but its use for NICU parent education is relatively novel with only limited pilot data.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Parent or legal guardian of a neonate admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) within 72 hours of admission
* Age 18 years or older
* Able to read and understand the study language (Arabic)
* Willing to provide informed consent and participate in study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

* Parent with a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy, vestibular disorder, or any medical condition that contraindicates virtual reality exposure
* Parent of a neonate expected to be discharged or transferred within 48 hours
* Parent unable to complete study procedures or assessments

Where it's running

  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Suez Canal University Hospital
    Ismailia, Ismailia, Egypt., Egypt
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.